Dr. D.B. Warren

Indians Charge Dr. D.B. Warren's Camp

During the Spring of 1872, Dr. D.B. Warren, while rounding up cattle, to be sent to Missouri, had a cow camp, on the edge of the prairie about one-fourth mile northeast of Lovers' Retreat, and about the same distance west and a little north of where the old road made the second crossing of Eagle. Dr. D.B. Warren, Bill and John Hayes, Dan Ramsey, Scott Warren, Bob Bones, Little Johnnie Lynn, W.J. Hale, Mack Mathis, and, perhaps, one or two others, were camped for the night. Inasmuch as there was a general roundup, other cow outfits were camped at the old Dodson place and elsewhere. During the last shift, before the break of day, Little Johnnie Lynn, Mack Mathis, W.J. Hale, Bob Bones and Scott Warren had horses saddled to guard the cattle, when the savages ran in and fired three or four shots, and succeeded in stampeding the horses. Scott Warren said, "Boys, we will beat them to the big gap, and get the horses back." So the cowboys mounted their steeds, and hurried to the Turkey Knob, in Big Gap, about one and one-half miles northwest of the Byron Maddox, and Roy Hittson places. When the Indians came driving the horses along, they evidently had not thought of being waylaid. Consequently after the citizens fired eight or ten shots, the savages fled into the roughs along Harris Branch, between Turkey Knob and Antelope Mountain. Scott Warren, Bob Bones, Mack Mathis, Johnnie Lynn, and W.J. Hale succeeded in recovering a part or all of the stolen horses. Inasmuch as it was only a short time until the break of day, several citizens were soon on the Indians' trail, which passed between Turkey Knob and Antelope Mountain, then on down to the mouth of Ioni, where the Indians crossed into Fortune Bend. From here, they went around the point of the mountain, where the Fortune Bend school house is located; on to the Cougar place, and then into Dark Valley, where the citizens turned back.

Note: Author interviewed: W.J. Hale, mentioned above; and one or two others who were in a camp nearby, when the Indians made the charge.

The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell.